Review Summary: If Polish rain was music.
I've been in love with Polish literature ever since I’ve read Alfred Szklarski’s adventure/pulp series about young traveler and dissident Tomek Wilmowski as a kid. Can’t say that I liked all things Polish ever written (unfortunately, never really got into Boleslaw Prus), but Henryk Sienkiewicz is the king of historical fiction, and Andrzej Sapkowski could be my favorite writer ever both within and outside of the fantasy genre.
I've been in love with Polish cinema ever since I've watched Vabank (1981), a brilliant bank heist comedy by Juliusz Machulski, in my high school years (and the sequel is even better!). After a while, it becomes hilarious to see Robert Więckiewicz in every odd Polish movie for the last 15+ years, but both classic and modern Polish cinema has a lot to offer, from exemplary noir films by Andrzej Waida and Jerzy Kawalerowicz in the fifties to today’s auteurs such as Macej Kowalewski or Wojciech Smarzowski.
However, for some reasons, I’ve been steadily ignoring Polish music for all those years, even back in the day, when I was actively studying Polish language. The few bands I deigned to listen to were export-oriented outfits who barely sung a few (if any) lines in Polish throughout their careers. I admire and respect Vader or Riverside but is there anything specifically Polish about their sound? Hardly. So, even if I did listen to some Polish bands, they were not the ones that possess distinctly Polish identity, but those hardwired for international appeal and recognition from the start.
And this still isn’t it. Yes, Diatom’s first LP is sung entirely in Polish (they switched to English for the new one). But their references and acts to follow are not Turbo or Kat. The band’s sonic aspirations clearly lie further North, and their most obvious reference point is Leprous. I mean, old Leprous with guitars and harsh vocals (although those take their time to appear on this album). The song “Lakryce” particularly sounds like it’s taken straight from “The Congregation.” However, most of the time, Diatom’s influences are not displayed so bluntly. Indeed, there are occasional Leprous associations, and “Petla,” the heaviest song on the album and the only one sung entirely in harsh vocals, even brings to mind Ihsahn. But mostly it’s not so much about direct references as about overall cold and distinctly Scandinavian vibe of the album. It projects the gloom and despondency of late autumn, when it seems like the sun will never shine again. To be more precise, “Sol” sounds like Polish rain with a hint of Scandinavian frost.
Overall, “Sol” is a very no-nonsense metal album. Just heavy guitars, gritty rhythm section, and dramatic vocals. Not a single corny ballad to be found, all the songs are rather heavy, although each to a different degree. Electronics are used very, very sparingly and only make a token appearance on a couple of songs. The songs are normally built around mid-tempo riffs with very little soloing, but some melodic licks are almost always present to counterpoint the heavier parts and keep the album from becoming a plodding and monotonous affair. In terms of style, the band mostly leans into modern alternative metal with some significant progressive aspirations. The singer Michał Kulniew is up to the task, being equally skilled in clean and harsh vocals and providing an emotional, vulnerable performance without resorting to overacting a la Einar Solberg. Throughout the album, the band exercises an admirable taste and restraint, knowing full well when to apply harsher vocals or pick up the speed, and when to focus on the melody and the atmosphere.
Even though “Sol” is Diatom’s debut long-play, it is a very mature and balanced album that masterfully showcases the darker and colder side of metal. We have yet to see if the band will be able to capitalize on its promising beginnings, but when taken at face value this album already deserves attention and recognition. It seems like Riverside is gone for good, and was barely present anyway ever since Piotr’s death, but young and aspiring acts like Diatom are here to carry the torch.
